Sunday, 13 December 2015

La Liga Re-cap: Deportivo stun Barca, super- sub saves Sevilla



Deportivo's late fightback sealed a 2-2 draw with
Barcelona, Sevilla and Celta Vigo both won and Las
Palmas climbed off La Liga's bottom. Photo: Filed.

A late comeback from Deportivo la Coruna saw Barcelona drop
their first points at home in La Liga this season.

A brilliant Lionel Messi free-kick and a ferocious strike from Ivan
Rakitic put the champions in control at Camp Nou, but Lucas
Perez struck 13 minutes from time to give Deportivo hope.

Perez teed up Alex Bergantinos to fire home a superb leveller
with just four minutes to play to give Deportivo a repeat of their
2-2 draw on the same ground at the end of last season and
leave Luis Enrique's side feeling shaken ahead of their Club
World Cup semi-final next week.

Celta Vigo continued their pursuit of the top three with a 1-0 win
over Espanyol but lost star winger Nolito to a late injury.

Iago Aspas' fine strike proved enough for the home side at
Balaidos despite the sending-off of Pablo Hernandez just after
half-time, as Espanyol suffered their fourth away defeat in a
row.

But Celta will be concerned after Nolito limped off in the closing
minutes, with head coach Eduardo Berizzo confirming he will
face a scan on a potential thigh muscle problem early next
week.

Sevilla followed up their Champions League win over Juventus
with a 2-0 victory over Sporting Gijon thanks to substitute Kevin
Gameiro's double.

The French striker converted a penalty on 75 minutes after
Fernando Llorente was fouled by Luis Hernandez, who was
subsequently sent off for a second yellow card.

And Gameiro headed in Yevhen Konoplyanka's cross five
minutes later to seal the win which takes Sevilla to within a point
of sixth-placed Deportivo.

Willian Jose was the hero for Las Palmas as his last-gasp
winner ensured a 1-0 victory over Real Betis which lifts the
Canary Islanders off the foot of the table.

The 24-year-old's brilliant turn and fine finish inside the area
sealed just a third win of the season for Las Palmas and lifted
them to 18th place.

Levante are now propping up Spain's top flight after losing 2-1
at home to Granada, who are themselves now a point above the
drop zone.

Adalberto Penaranda's first goal in La Liga was cancelled out by
Simao Mate, but the 18-year-old struck again with just two
minutes to play to seal the win.

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